Latch for extractor unloading nets



g M g I LATCH FOR EXTRACTOR UNLOADING NETS Filed Nov. 19, 1931.

R O T N E V m ATTORNEYJF atentetl 2,039Al2t LATCH FUR EXTRACTOR UNlLtlADllNG NETS Charles M. ()tis, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 19, 1931, Serial No. 576,105

7 lClainis.

My invention relates to a latching means for extractor loading and unloading nets. That is, the usual nets provided for receiving a material to be disposed in the extractor basket and subjected to the extracting operation and serving as a vehicle by means of which the work may be conveyed to the basket or removed therefrom after the extracting operation.

The object of my invention is to provide a latching means for maintaining the loading and unloading net within the extractor basket against accidental displacement during the operation of the basket, the latch being of a nature to automatically become effective when the net is disposed in its normal operating position within the basket and to be automatically released to permit removal of the net from the extractor basket when sufiicient lifting force is applied to a lifting means forming a part of the net to raise the net and its load out of the extractor basket.

Various other objects and advantageous features of my invention will be seen in the follow ing description and one embodiment thereof may be seen in the accompanying drawing wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an extractor with its cover in open position and showing an unloading net equipped with a latching means constructed in accordance with my invention partially disposed within the basket thereof; and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional View showing a latching means constructed in accordance with my invention and in operative position, the unloading net being disposed in its normal operative position in the extractor basket.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, I have shown an extractor that may be of any suitable type and embodies a curb l and basket 2 disposed within and rotatable with relation to the curb, the curb being provided with a hinged cover 3 that is normally closed when an extracting operation is taking place by rotating the basket 2. The curb i may be suitably supported on a frame of a type to permit oscillatory and gyratory movement thereof, and the curb shown embodies a center hearing within a center bearing cover t on which the basket 2 is mounted in the usual manner. A net embodying an annular metallic top ring 5 and a flexible bag 6 depending therefrom is provided for receiving work to be subjected to the extracting operation whereby the work may be placed in and removed from the extractor basket 2 as a unit.

The annular metallic top ring 5 from which the bag or net 6 depends, is of such diameter as to fit snugly within an upper ring I of the extractor basket 2 and is provided with an annular flange portion 8 adapted to rest on the ring l of the extractor basket to properly support the net or bag 6. As shown in Fig. l, the flange 8 is provided with circumferentially spaced cutaway portions 9 adapted to fit over and cooperate with blocks H] circumferentially spaced on the ring 1 to prevent relative rotation between the extractor basket 2 and the net or bag 6 when the net or bag is disposed within the extractor basket and the basket rotated. Likewise, these cutaway portions and blocks serve to bring the net or bag 6 into the proper registering position with the extractor basket.

In accordance with my invention, suitable means are provided for securely latching the net or bag 6 in position in the basket 2 consisting of latch bolts l l disposed in circumferentially spaced latch bolt housings l2 and normally spring pressed outwardly into cooperative relation with latch bolt receiving grooves l3 in the extractor basket ring l by means of expanding springs M. However, each latch bolt is provided with an upwardly extending ear l5 projecting through a slot It in the annular ring 5 of the net or bag 6 and each ear is provided with an opening ll to receive hooks it of a net or bag lifting mechanism including links H! extending radially outwardly from a ring 20 which is adapted to be engaged by a hook H of any suitable raising and lowering power mechanism not shown.

With this construction, it will be seen that, when the net or bag 6 is being raised or lowered, the weight of the net or bag, or the net or bag plus the load therein, will result in the latch bolts it being drawn radially inwardly against the pressure of the springs M to withdraw the latch bolts from their normal projected position wherein they would be in engagement with the grooves it if the bag were within the basket 2 in operative position. Thus, during the raising or lowering of the net or bag, the latch bolts l I are automatically moved to retracted position by the raising or lowering action and the weight lifted thereby whereby the net or bag may be raised out of or lowered into the extractor basket 2 with the latch bolts in retracted position and with the latch bolts being projected into latching relation with the extractor basket 2 as soon as the net or bag lifting mechanism is relieved of weight which occurs when the net or bag is in operative position within the basketv 2.

Referring to the drawing and the preceding description, I have provided a latch means for a loading and unloading net for an extractor so constructed that the latch means will become automatically effective for retaining the net or bag within the extractor basket when the net or bag is in its normal operative position in the basket and will be automatically movable to retracted or unlatched position by operation of the net or bag lifting mechanism when power is applied thereto to raise the net or bag out of the basket. Thus, a net or bag filled with goods to be treated or a net or bag of treated goods may be placed in the extractor and securely latched therein or removed from the extractor by the usual lifting mechanism with no attention paid to the latching means. Various other features will be readily apparent.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with an extractor including a rotatable basket, a bag for containing goods to be disposed in said basket, latch means including a normally projected latch bolt for maintaining said bag in said basket, and a bag lifting means connected to said latch bolt, said lifting means being effective to retract said latch bolt from projected position when bag lifting force is applied to said lifting means.

2. In combination with an extractor including a rotatable basket having a latch groove therein, a bag for containing goods to be disposed in said basket, latch means carried by said bag and including a normally projected latch bolt for engaging the latch groove in said basket for maintaining said bag in said basket, and a lifting means connected to said latch bolt, said lifting means being effective to retract said latch bolt from projected position when bag lifting force is applied to said lifting means.

3. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a container, a bag adapted to be disposed therein, latch means for locking said bag in said container including a latch bolt normally in latching position, and a bag lifting means connected to said latch bolt, said lifting means being effective to move said bolt from latched to unlatched position when lifting force is applied to said lifting means.

4. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a container, a bag adapted to be dis posed therein, latch means for locking said bag in said container including a latch bolt, spring means normally maintaining said latch bolt in latching position, and a bag lifting means connected to said latch bolt, said lifting means being effective to move said latch bolt from latched to unlatched position when lifting force is applied to said lifting means.

5. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a basket, a bag supporting member for cooperation therewith, a bag carried by said supporting member and adapted to be disposed in said basket, a latch carried by said supporting member for maintaining said bag in said basket including a latch bolt normally in latched position and adapted to engage said basket, and a bag lifting means, said bag lifting means being connected with and effective to move said latch bolt from latched to unlatched position when lifting force is applied to said lifting means.

6. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a basket, a bag supporting member for cooperation therewith, a bag carried by said sup porting member and adapted to be disposed in said basket, a latch carried by said supporting member for maintaining said bag in said basket including a latch bolt adapted to engage said basket, spring means for normally maintaining said bolt in latching position, and a bag lifting means, said bag lifting means being connected with and effective to move said latch bolt from latched to unlatched position when lifting force is applied to said lifting means.

7. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a basket, a bag supporting member for cooperation therewith, a bag carried by said supporting member and adapted to be disposed in said basket, means for properly positioning said supporting members relative to said basket, a latch carried by said supporting member for maintaining said bag in said basket including a latch bolt normally in latched position and adapted to engage said latch keepers in said basket, and a bag lifting means, said bag lifting means being connected with and effective to move said latch bolt from latched to unlatched position when lifting force is applied to said lifting means.

CHARLES M. OTIS. 

